MLB: Yankees beat Indians 7-1; Cano, Swisher, Wise go deep

NEW YORK -- Robinson Cano homered and drove in three runs to extend his recent tear, Hiroki Kuroda took a shutout into the eighth inning and the New York Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians 7-1 on Monday night.

Nick Swisher and Dewayne Wise also went deep for the homer-happy Yankees, who opened a seven-game homestand against the top two teams in the AL Central with their third consecutive victory and 13th in 16 games. After winning an intense Subway Series across town against the Mets over the weekend, New York roughed up Josh Tomlin (3-5) early and breezed the rest of the way.

Cano hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning Sunday night at Citi Field and picked up right where he left off in this one. He smacked a two-run double in the first inning and a solo homer in the third to the short porch in right.

After a slow start to the season, Cano has hit six of his 17 homers in the last eight games. Earlier in the day, the three-time All-Star moved ahead of Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler in fan balloting for the American League squad.

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It was a painful night for catcher Carlos Santana and the Indians, who dropped their third straight following a four-game winning streak. Despite wearing a protective guard, he drilled two foul balls off his right foot in a three-pitch span in the fourth.

Santana stayed down in pain for a while, but remained in the game.

Wise added an RBI triple in a rare start and

Cano made one of several fine defensive plays to back Kuroda (7-7), who improved to 4-1 with a 1.93 ERA in his last six starts.

The 37-year-old right-hander was rarely in trouble besides the fourth, when he walked the first two batters and still escaped unscathed. He easily handled a lineup loaded with nine left-handed bats, giving up five hits while walking two and striking out seven.

Kuroda was lifted after allowing a single and double to start the eighth, walking off to a warm ovation from the crowd of 42,290. Jason Kipnis hit a sacrifice fly off Clay Rapada.

The effervescent Swisher jogged off the field with a big smile after all five balls in the inning were hit to him in right field, sending him sprinting to both his right and left.

Swisher followed Cano's homer with one of his own, an opposite-field drive that tucked into the left-field corner.

Wise, making his eighth start of the season, hit a long two-run shot in the second for his first homer with the Yankees. He played center field, where Curtis Granderson had started the first 71 games of the season.

Granderson was the designated hitter, and third baseman Alex Rodriguez was given the night off.

Notes

The Indians plan to recall RHP Zach McAllister from Triple-A Columbus to start Thursday night in Baltimore in place of RHP Jeanmar Gomez, who was demoted to the Clippers. ... LHP Scott Barnes, called up from the minors before the game, allowed one run over 2 2-3 solid innings in relief of Tomlin. ... Cleveland DH Travis Hafner (right knee surgery) was scheduled to run Monday and slide Tuesday. If all goes well, he could begin a minor league rehab assignment in a couple of days, manager Manny Acta said. ... The Bleacher Creatures chanted ex-Yankee Johnny Damon's name when he took his position in left field for Cleveland. Damon (2,750 hits) went 1 for 4 with a double. He said he'd like to reach 3,000 hits but isn't sure he'd try to hang on just to do it. He said bouncing from one team to another every year is getting difficult. ... Yankees SS Derek Jeter turns 38 on Tuesday. ... Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira was hit by a pitch on his right wrist in the seventh but remained in the game. ... RHP Justin Masterson (4-6, 3.98 ERA) starts Tuesday night for Cleveland against RHP Phil Hughes (7-6, 4.94). ... The Yankees began their annual Hope Week by celebrating Flying Manes, a therapeutic horse-riding program for special-needs children. The team's weeklong charity and community initiative is in its fourth year and includes the organization's minor league affiliates for the first time this season.